Journey

We took the train from Madras to New Delhi for a 15 day northwest India trip. The train journey took about 3 days. It was a wonderful way to see and experience India. One observable change was the progressive greening of the envirnonment as we progressed north from south India. Here I was hanging out of the train to take a picture of the lush greenery (some where in Central India) and the train. I was pleasently surprised when I saw the train turning a corner. The turn made for a better picture.

I expected to have a relaxing train journey to Delhi, but then I picked Gandhi as my travel companion. You see I began reading his autobiography, "The Story of My Experiments with Truth" and one doesn't read that book for 'light' reading. The books foreced me to view in a different light, so here I was traveling on the train coming across new people, new cultures, new languages and try to understand how India had changed half century since her independance; thus asking big big questions. I was constantly inquiring, asking "What would Gandhi think of this? What would he think of that?". I was forced to come, again and again, to the conclusion that he wouldn't have been happy with the state of affairs. Once I had poignant, awe-inspiring thought: Gandhi had been physically kicked out of a first-class compartment, for which he had a ticket, on to a station in South Africa because of of racism; and here I was traveling rather comfortably in first-class (and A/C to boot) nearly a century after that incident --had progress been made or does injustice and inequality have a new face? Suffice to say I finished only half the book.

There were times I would just sat at the above spot and watched and pondered as the country went by.

“Our life is shaped by our mind; we become what we think. Suffering follows an evil thought as the wheels of a cart follow the oxen that draws it."

Buddha Idol at a Temple in Manali.

I had always wanted to meet buddhist monks and visit a monastery. I had some romantic notions about both. In Manali, I had a chance to go to a small buddhist temple (alas, monastery would be another day). I went in and sat in silence for a few minutes (and meditated) and then wandered around taking pictures. This statue of buddha is actually two stories high. I am standing on the second floor of the temple while taking this picture (thus, the size is massive). I asked the lone monk there whether I'd be able to join in during prayer later on in the evening. He welcomed me. So I came back in the evening. The monk was the only one there. I expected more monks He receited prayer and performed rituals. I got his permission to record the audio of prayers and he agreed. I stayed quiet and mediated till the prayers were complete. Once in a while I would open my eyes to see what ritual the monk was performing. I felt lighter, I felt happier, I felt more at peace. Maybe it was all in my mind, but I suppose that is the point it all: in the end, everything is in our mind. I retired for the night walking jollyer than usual to my hotel when the sky sprinkled ,ever so lightly and to my delight, rain drops - a perfect end to the night.

Here is another picture by another photographer of the same subject:
www.flickr.com/photos/balu/54825300/

Here is a picture Wiki of the temple:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:DCP_1332.JPG
(Scanned from photograph)

“Our life is shaped by our mind; we become what we think. Suffering follows an evil thought as the wheels of a cart follow the oxen that draws it."

Title quote by Buddha.

Buddha Idol at a Temple in Manali.

I had always wanted to meet buddhist monks and visit a monastery. I had some romantic notions about both. In Manali, I had a chance to go to a small buddhist temple (alas, monastery would be another day). I went in and sat in silence for a few minutes (and meditated) and then wandered around taking pictures. This statue of buddha is actually two stories high. I am standing on the second floor of the temple while taking this picture (thus, the size is massive). I asked the lone monk there whether I'd be able to join in during prayer later on in the evening. He welcomed me. So I came back in the evening. The monk was the only one there. I expected more monks He receited prayer and performed rituals. I got his permission to record the audio of prayers and he agreed. I stayed quiet and mediated till the prayers were complete. Once in a while I would open my eyes to see what ritual the monk was performing. I felt lighter, I felt happier, I felt more at peace. Maybe it was all in my mind, but I suppose that is the point it all: in the end, everything is in our mind. I retired for the night walking jollyer than usual to my hotel when the sky sprinkled ,ever so lightly and to my delight, rain drops - a perfect end to the night.

Here is another picture by another photographer of the same subject:
www.flickr.com/photos/balu/54825300/

Here is a picture Wiki of the temple:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:DCP_1332.JPG
(Scanned from photograph)

The exterior white marble wall of the Sikh Golden Temple (Amritsar, Punjab, India) inlaid with semi-precious stones to create the designs. The series of pics are of poor quality as they were scanned from photos; but this picture was too good to leave out. Too good in real life. The symmetry, the colors and patterns are a joy, especially on pure white; couldn't believe it was inlaid work, not merely drawings. I spent a few minutes admiring other similar patterns around the temple, running my hands over them (to authenticate whether they indeed were inlaid:) to the curious glance of pilgrims. Found it interesting that the Taj Mahal has this sort of work as well (if i remember correctly). The top half the two story Golden Temple is plated with gold while the bottom half is covered with what you see above.

"He who understands his own self (awareness within), realizes the Lord (awareness)." - Guru Nanak Dev Ji

"Let the realization that God (awareness) is within you be your discrimination (realization of the truth)." -Guru Nanak Dev Ji

“The greatest comforts and lasting peace are obtained, when one eradicates selfishness from within.” -Guru Gobind Singh

Other Golden Temple photos:
Panaroma
Entrance
The Writings on the Wall

Restaurante

This snap was shot at one of the many restaurants that line the main street of Puerto Marquesa, south of Acapulco. The streets like the beach. Visited the place on a Sunday, so the beach was PACKED! We chose a restaurant and ordered our food. This lady was the cook there and was moving very fast here and there (as evidenced in this image) cutting this cutting that moving this moving that and totally ignoring the annoying tourists who were sticking their noses through her windowed kitchen with curious grins. We stood and watched her do her work wanting to know how she prepares our dish. Usually customers order and then go to the back of the restaurant which overlooks the beautiful beach. Waiteresses run back and forth catering to the customers every need.

As we were 'staring' at her cooking, another lady came out from the back and started semi-yelling at us because she thought we thought...huh...I lost the story. Oh yes, the other lady thought we wanted to 'inspect' the preparation of the food to make sure it was hygenic. We esplained to her profusely that that wasn't the case and we were simply observing her style of cooking. After a while she believed us and left us alone--not before giving us a angry look. I was ready to ask her to speak to the owner to report this incident when it hit me that i was on vacation and i should chill out. We laughted about it over many many cold cerevezas....

A (Beautiful) Life Reclaimed.

This fella is one of two Grizzly bear 'cubs' ( their name: Grinder and Coola) who were rescued from the wilds of Western Canada after they were found abandoned (probably because their mother was killed). Their new home now is at Grouse Mountain's Refuge for Endangered Wildlife, north of Vancouver, Canada--in a enclosure that mimics their habitat. Usually, and damn tragically I must add, new-found orphaned cubs are shot as the resource to care for them is non-existant. But this fella and the other cub (not in the image) are part of a bold 'experiement'. A experiment by a thoughtful scientist to rear orphaned Grizzly bear in a controlled natural habitat and then, possibly, release the bears into the wild. Releasing them into the wild is a far shot as this has never be done before (a la 'Born Free').

These guys are the first batch of the experiement and thus they won't be released into the wild as they have already come into contact with humans. You could say they are 'spokesbears' for their kind, enlightening the public about their plight and the hopeful program. The next batch of orphans will be raised, if everything goes right with these pioneers bears, in a fenced-off enclosure deep inside the forest and then, when they can fend for themselves, into the wilderness...
I've got my figers crossed:)

About Grinder and Coola
Bear Facts
Read their story here from Discovery Channel.

Quote:
"Bears are made of the same dust as we, and breathe the same winds and drink of the same waters. A bear's days are warmed by the same sun, his dwellings are overdomed by the same blue sky, and his life turns and ebbs with heart-pulsings like ours and was poured from the same fountain..." - John Muir...upon finding a dead bear in Yosemite

Elephant Herd Near Munnar, Kerala

During a visit to Munnar we took a boat ride, on a man-made reservoir, in hopes of seeing elephants. The ticket seller and the boat man told us they had seen a herd early in the day, but I brushed it off thinking he just wanted us to buy the ticket. Binoculars in hand I took command of the boat telling my father to cover the left side, my aunt to cover the right side, and my uncle to cover the back while I covered the all-important front. After 15 minutes, and reaching the end of the lake before we had to turn back, I was sorely dissappointed. Then suddenly I had my aunt voice barely over the load noise of the propeller. She was pointing to a patch of trees behind us.

There they were, a herd of elepahants. Immediately I pulled the bionuclars and scanned the treeline. Some of the herd was hidden behind the trees. I counted five exposed eleis. Then I caught sight of a baby elei. Too cute! (Wait, did I just say cute?) The boat motor was cut off. Everyone took turn with the binoculars, throwing out words: wow, amazing, too good and why can't they be closer. We watched them for 10 minutes and then started back.

I tell you, its amazing seeing these beautiful creatures. It pained me to think about their future in India and around the world. Ironically, just a mile or two from this place some bastards were cutting down trees to expand a tea plantation. To get my mind off that, I turned around to my aunt and asked her why she was looking at the back when I had told her to cover the right side:) The look on her face: "oh the sun must be getting to him".

"Nature's great masterpiece, an elephant; the only harmless great thing." - John Donne

Burnin'

The Experience:
So we go stop off at a very famous jerk chicken/pork spot off of Monetgo Bay, Jamaica by the name of Scotchie's. Definitely worth a visit. The jerk stuff get smoked/cooked in front of your eyes in heavily characteristic hut. They have few huts to eat in where the seats are beer kegs:) Can't say it was da best jerk chicken in all of Jamaica as me haven't eat'n all-round da country. But I go say one thing, the home-made hot sauce (made from Scotch Bonnet peppers--hence da joint name Scotchie's) brought tears to me eyes and lite me tongue on fiya. I dunn think i was eva in dat much pain, ever!. Of course, I brought the whole affair on meself by dipping and pouring da sauce all ova da chicken like it wata. Now for all yous who haven't try Scotch Bonnet, it is a creeper meaning the hotness (more like 'hell's wrath':) go hit u after a few second--right after you eat a lot more, boldly saying "man, that na be hot, give me some more".

And then, it HITS you. And I mean IT HITS YOU!! First you feel likkle pain and den, full-fledged pain. Den your tongue go on fire and da pain na go away for a long time (you drink wha ever within ya reach--beer, water, beer, beer, beer -but noting go help). And then the tears them come; you can't control it. During all dis, you praying for forgiveness and promising you neva gonna do whaever u did wrong in all your life. But only one thing go save you....time --till dat time go come you mus endure the pain.

Dis friendly bartneder didn't mind smiling..er...laughing for the camera. -he was a bit confused after I ask him for some milk to put the fiya out in me mouth, all he did was laugh and pass me the Guinness...

Luckly da tour guide tell me da precautions dat one mus folla afta touching Scotch Bonnet. (Hint: Guys dem go to the restroom and mistakenly touch where dey na suppose to touch and dem rush out wit mo pain afta de fiya spread to .....;) lol

Rasta/Patois Dictionary

Some Music Wit Dat:
Bad tune:Kaliyon Ka Chaman (Dpo Reggae Mix)

Tusker at Mudumalai Wildlife Santuary, Tamil Nadu, India

This Indian elephant (Elephas maximus indicus) is a tusker. Tusker are elephants with large 'tusks', like this one. Tusks are in fact teeth! It is rare to see these brilliant tuskers in the wild due to poaching for their ivory and loss of habitat. Within a space of few decades, these animals have been reduced in number. My uncles (who were legendary in their pursuit of fun and the good times) used to tell me numerous stories of their expereince in the jungles of South India from over half century ago; including their many encounters with wild tuskers. I have only their stories to go by now, for all my time in the forests I have yet to see a majestic tusker like this. Now, many of these tuskers are relegated to the temples of Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

This friendly tusker can be found at the elephant work camp in Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary (in the north west part of Tamil Nadu along the border with Kerala). Elephant rides are provided for tourists in the morning and evening into the forest. It is unlikely you will see any wildlife while on these elephants; for better wildlife viewing opportunities one must go on dusk & dawn van rides, that are organized by the government, into restricted trails in the jungle. The elephant 'workcamp' employs tribals from the local area. When I got on one of these elephants, I shot question after question to the friendly mahout: Have you seen a tiger? Do you think we can see a tiger today? What are the chances of seeing a tiger today? Whoa, it will be so cool to see a tiger this morning right? He answered them patiently one after the other; he must have had experience with 'hyperactives'.

Then he told me a story of how long back one of the elephants carrying tourists got spooked by a wild elephants and suddenly decided to do a 50 meter dash -- along with the now-not-so-camera-happy tourists on his back. That episode, he told me, ended with a crushed leg for one (as the device people sit on came crashing down) and three other shaken, suddenly-religious, tourists. My questions to the mahout stopped immediately --as one couldn't ask questions and pray profusely at the same time. I asked good lord to resicnd my earlier request to see a wild elephant or a tiger for that matter; nothing that would spook the elephant. My prayers were answered: no wild elephants, no tigers and an uncrushed , perfectly working legs. What more can anyone want from a safari!:)

Mudumalai Info